Cast-metal vehicle wheel



1,635,49Q July 12,1927. AMELDRUM v v I GAS T METAL VEHICLE WHEEL Filed May 21. 19.25 2 sheets -spfqet 2 A TTORNE Y.

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CAST-YHETAL VEHICLE WE.

' Application mes at, was. semi at. erase.

, This invention'relates to vehicle wheels, and more particularly to cast metal vehicle wheels.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved type of cast metal vehiclewheel. v

More particularly it is an object of the f present invention to provide a cast metal vehicle wheel in which the hub, spokes and m felloe are cast inte a1 without the use of cores and yet a tubular spoke provided.

A Another object of the present invention consists in the'method of making a cast metal vehiclewheel without the use of cores by casting the spokes in channel form and closing them to tubular shape by suitable forming devices.

A further object of the resent invention consists in the provision o a one-piece cast so metal vehicle wheel which is cast with channel-shaped spokes connectifi the felloe and hub, which channels aresu ientl sheared from the attached parts to enable t em to be pressed into tubular shape. 25

wheel, cast with all of its load supporting portions integral and having spokes, whichin their finished form comprise closed tubuw lar members provided with integral transverse reinforcmg webs.

Other and further-objects of the present invention will be more apparent as' the description proceeds.

I; Fora full understanding of the-present invention reference should be had to the accompanying draw' and following s ecification wherein are isclosed several 1 ustrative embodiments of thepresent inven- 5 tion with the understanding, however, that various changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe attached claims. I Y l8 TInsaiddrawings: Fig. 1 is a face view of a completed wheel constructed according to the present invention, certain parts being shown'in dotted lines; h. 0

Fig. 2 is a section. of the same on lme'2-2 ofFig.1;' 1

Fig. 3 is a partial section on l1ne 22 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, but showing a spokein its original cast shape;

A further object of the present invention consists in the provision of a metal vehicle Fig. 4 is a section on line H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a'section on line 5-5 of Fig. l, showmg the spoke in its completed shape; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing one of the spokes in elevation arid in its final forin; W

Fi 7 is a partial side elevation of a modified orm of spoke construction;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fi 7 I but showing the spoke in its incomp ete form;

' Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of a wheel showing a further modified form .r of spoke construction; f Fig. 10 is a. section on line 107-10 of Fig. 9, showing the spoke in completed form;

,. Fig. 11 is a partial face view; and

Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Fig. 11 showin the wheel of Fig. 1 modified to receive a emountable rim.

In the manufacture of metal vehicle 7 wheels? the most desirable feature, consistent with good quality, is the reduction of labor costs and in makin cast metal wheels it has been found that in: elimination of cores materially reduces the amount of labor necessexy for molding and casting the wheels and at the same time eliminates the possibility of' defective castings due to floating cores and similar dificulties It is therefore contemplated, according to the present invention, to cast a vehicle wheel having integral hub, spokes, felloe and rim in which the okes are cast as open sided channels, attached at their ends to the hub and felloe the sides of the channels being vertical an flat so that the pattern" can be drawn from the flask. The wheel is preferably cast from malleable iron and after the annealing process the flat sides of the channels are bent. and their edges brought together to form-o5 complete tubular spokes, the meeting edges of the sides of the channels being 'brazed or similarly secured together, as are the ends thereof tothe hub and felloe.

Referring to the drawings Figs.- 1. to 6 ion disclose the preferred embo iment of the invention, and it will be noted that the wheel comprises a hub member 20 composed ,of the flat radial annulus 21 and the cylindrical outer portion 22. If desired, a flange we .or ring 23 may be turned inward as shown to assist in supporting the wheel from a ?suitable inner hu or hearing carrying memher to which the wheel may be fastened by suitable devicespassing through the openings 24 which are reinforced by the bosses and the webs 26. A felloe portion 27 is provided which is curved in cross section as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is open on the other side as at 28. is initially formed integral with the rim 29 by being secured to it at the edge 30. The r1m'29 is provided on the side opposite the edge 30 with a suitable tire retaining flange 31 as is common practice. The rim is further and permanently secured to and sup-. ported from the felloe by means of the non-' radial webs 32, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, two being provided adjacent'the end of each spoke and directed in opposite directions therefrom toward the rim, thus completely supporting the rim from the felloe in spite of the groove 33 which is later turned in the base of the rim to receive the well known locking or side ring 34, as shown in Fig. 2, which serves to retain the tire in position and can be released asis well known for mounting and demounting tires.

The non-radial webs connecting the felloe and rim are not claimed in this application, but. are more full' disclosed, described and claimed in m atent No. 1,610,024, December 7, 1926, or sectional wheels.

The open space 28 between the edge of the felloe and the rim may be closed for the sake of appearance and to give additional strength to the wheel by means of'ring 35 I which can be pressed into position to rest on the ed cs 36 of the webs 32 and securely fastened felloe as s own at 37. I

The hub and felloe are secured together by any suitable number of spokes 38, preferably seven in number as shown, which are cast integral with these two parts. In order that the pattern may be drawn from the the felloe and hub portion 22 from which they must be severed, preferably by shearing to the line 41 in Fig. 4 in order that they ma be bent into the sha e shown in Fig. 5 wit their edges 42 meeting toforin a complete closed tubular spoke of any desired cross section either circular, elliptical or any other suitable form. .Where the spokes meet the felloe and hub suitable fillets 43 and 44 are provided and portions of these fillets may be sheared with the sides 40 if desired This felloe 27' staking over the edge of the to form a finish where these sides meet the hub and felloe when the spoke is bent into tubular form, although the fillets may be omitted where these flat sides meet the hub and felloe in the initial casting to simplify the shearing operation;

It is desirable in order to. eliminate any openings or cracks from the finished wheel be done by brazing with spelter or, like material or by welding.

The wheels are cast so that the sides 40 can readily be bent,

after the annealing process, by placing the spokes in suitable saddles and pressing the edges 40 together with a former which may have an internal shape to conform to that of the desiredfinished outline of the spokes.

It is desirable that the spokes .be provided i with reinforcements to increase their strength and to prevent their deforming under load by changing their outline. Such reinforcement serves to maintain the curved portions 39 of the spokes against flattening wh1ch may happen if the spoke has force applied to it tending to bend it in the direc tion of its length. This reinforcement can best be effected by casting the webs 45 transfrom malleable iron versely of the spokes and integral with the curved bottom portions 39. as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These webs may, if desired, be given such a configuration on their free edges 46 as to act as formers around which the flat sides 40 may be bent to thusdetermine the exact-outline of the side of the spoke formed by these two arts. I This, however, is not necessary and t e webs may only be of semicircular or similar shape instead of complete disks separating the finished spokes into three compartments as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

The completed spokes have the outline of their cross section wholly inside of the edges t at of the hub. It will be further noticed the felloe of this wheel extends'mostly to'one side of the center, leaving clearance on the other side clear to the inside surface of the rim' so that large brake drums may be used with this form of wheel and adequate clearance provided for brake mechanisms and brake operating devices, which is of particular importance in connection with fourwheel brakes and the use of balloon tires which under ordinary conditions restrict the 7 and 8 is shown a modified form nee tubular portion 50 and 51 and having a projection or shoulder 53 about which the fiat sides 40 may be bent to form the complete tubular spoke these disks 52 serving as reinforcing members in the same manner as the webs and likewise acting as formers to determine the outline of the completed spoke. The meeting edges of the sides'40' may be brazed together and the ends brazed tot-he parts and 51. Y

In Figs. 9 and 10 is disclosed a further modification of spoke construction in which the sides 40" are shorter than in the con-.

struction disclosed in- Figs. 1 to 6 and are not bent over to close the spoke, a closing memher or strip 54 being used for this purpose which is placed in position resting upon the outer ed e 55 of the webs 45 and held in position y staking over the edges 56 of the sides 4 as best shown in Fig. 10. This closing strip need not be fiat, as shown in the figure, but can be formed to any desired configuration to assist in the appear-.

ance of the completed wheel. lhe ends can be welded to the hub and felloeas described 'in connection with the preferred modification.

Figs. 11 and 12 disclose the wheel of Figs- 1 and 2 formed for the reception of a dering 35 of the"edge of the felloe 27 to secure the lugs 62 inposition, whichlugs serve to maintain the rim in position and are themselves held 011 by the nuts 63 secured onthe bolts 61. Otherwise, the construction is identical with that disclosed in Figsul to v6.

Having 'thus described the inventfom-what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: p

y 1. Aicast metal vehicle wheel, includin in combination, an integralhub, spokes an felloe, said spokes being cast as open'sided channels connecting the hub and felloe, transverse webs integral with said channels and means for closing the open sides of said channels.

2. A cast metal vehicle wheel, including in combination, an integral hub, spokes and felloe, said spokes being cast as open sided channels connecting the hub and felloe, transverse webs integral with sand channels and means closing the open sides of said channels and conforming to the edges of said webs.

3. A metal vehicle wheel including in eeaaeo wheels comprising casting combination, a hub, felloe a'nd spokes cast integral, said spokes being cast as open sided L channels, integral transverse webs in said channels having former edges, the "sides of said channels being bent over against said former edges.

4. A metal vehicle wheel including in. combination, a hub, felloe and spokes cast integral, saidspokes'being cast as open sided channels, integral transverse webs in said channels having former edges,.the sides of said channels being bent over against, said former edges to form closed tubular spokes.

5'. The method of making metal vehicle wheels comprising casting an integral hub, spokes and felloe, the spokes com ecting the hub and felloe and being U-sha d in section, casting transverse former we integral with said spokes and bending the sides of said U-shaped spokes over said former webs to' close said channels.

-6. The method of making metal vehicle wheels comprising casting integral a hub,

channeled shaped spokes and a felloe, casting transverse webs integral with the bottom of each channel shaped spoke and bendin the sides of the channels over to'meet eac otherand rest on said webs.

Z. Themethod of making metal vehicle integral a hub, channel shaped spokes and a felloe, casting transverse webs integral with the bottom of each channel shaped spoke, bending the sides of the channels over to meet 'each other and rest on said webs, and securing said meeting edges together. p p 8. In a metal vehicle wheel in combination, a hub having a substantially cylindrical periphery, a felloe having an inner periphery, spokes joining said hub periphcry and felloe periphery and being cast integral therewith, each spoke being castas a channel I open on one side-.and havin a curved bottom the ends of which bottom 10in the hub and felloe and straight sides on said spokes initially free from said hub and felloe.

9. In a metal vehicle wheel in combin'a tion, a hub having a substantially cylindrical periphe ,a fello'e having an mner periphery, spo es joining said'hub periphery and felloe' periphery and being cast integral therewith, each spoke being castas a 'channel open on one side and having a curved bottom the ends ofwhich bottom jointhe hub and felloe, straight sides on said spokes initially free from said hub and felloe, and

transverse webs cast integral with the curved bottoms of said spokes and having outer edges serving as formers about which.

the" straight sides of said spokes may be .bent.

10. The method of making metal vehicle wheels comprising casting integral a'hub,

channel shaped spokes and a felloe, casting transverse webs integral with the bottom of each channel shaped spoke and shearing the ends of said channels from the felloe and hub enough to allow bending the sides of the channels over to meet each other and 7 rest on said webs.

11. The method of making metal vehicle wheels comprising casting integral. a hub,

1 channel shaped spokes and afelloe, casting 1o transverse webs integral with the bottom of each channel shaped spoke and shearing the ends of said channels from the felloe and hub enough to allow bending the sides of the channels over to meet each other and rest on said Webs so as to confine the outline of the cross section of the spokes thus formed wholly within the edges of the felloe.

I 12. The method of making metal. vehicle wheels comprising casting integral a hub,

channel shaped s ,okes and a felloe, casting transverse webs integral with the bottom of each channel shaped spoke and shearing the ends of said channels from the felloe and hub enough to allow bending the sides of the channels over to meet each other and rest on said webs so'as to confine the outline of the cross section of the spokes thus formed wholly within the edges of the felloe and securing said sheared ends to the felloe and hub rtion.

13. The method of making metal vehicle wheels comprising casting integral a hub, channel shaped spokes and a felloe, casting transverse webs integral with the bottom of each channel shaped spoke and shearing the ends of said channels from the felloe and hub enough to allow bending the sides of the channels over to meet each other and rest on said websso as to confine the outline of the cross section of the spokes thus formed Wholly within the edges of the felloe, securing said sheared ends to the felloe and hub portion and joining the meeting edges of the channels to each other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER MELDRUM 

